Geranium plant named ‘Pacchy’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal  Geranium  plant named ‘Pacchy’, characterized by its compact, upright and rounded plant habit; freely branching habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely and early flowering habit; semi-double red purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Pacchy’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Pacchy’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact semi-double flowered Zonal Geranium cultivars with uniform plant habit, dark green-colored foliage and attractive flower coloration.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Dresden, Germany during the summer of 2003 of two unnamed proprietary selections of Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented. The new Zonal Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany in June, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Dresden, Germany since December, 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Pacchy’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Pacchy’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and rounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely and early flowering habit.     -   6. Semi-double red purple-colored flowers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in plant vigor and flower color.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Pactwo’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,234. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Dresden, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed from plants of ‘Pactwo’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more compact than         plants of ‘Pactwo’.     -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had shorter internodes than         plants of ‘Pactwo’.     -   3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had slightly smaller leaves         than plants of ‘Pactwo’.     -   4. Leaves of plants of the new Zonal Geranium did not have a         discernible zonation pattern whereas plants of ‘Pactwo’ had a         discernible leaf zonation pattern.     -   5. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium flowered earlier than plants         of ‘Pactwo’.     -   6. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had smaller umbels with         fewer flowers per umbel than plants of ‘Pactwo’.     -   7. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had larger flowers than         plants of ‘Pactwo’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Pacchy’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Dresden, Germany in a glass-covered greenhouse during the autumn and winter and under conditions which closely approximate commercial Geranium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 18° C., night temperatures averaged 16° C. and light levels ranged from 15 kilolux to 100 kilolux. Plants were nine months from planting when the photograph and description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Pacchy’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 22 days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 25 days             at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 30 days             at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant/growth habit.—Compact, upright to rounded plant habit;             densely foliated; moderately vigorous growth habit. Freely             basal branching habit with about ten lateral branches             developing per plant.         -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 28 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of leaves.—About 15 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 40 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 15 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.             Internode length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Texture: Pubescent.             Color: Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate or opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 4 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Reniform.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Bi-crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; velvety.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137A; venation, close to 144A. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C; venation,             close to 144A. Zonation pattern: Not discernible. Petiole:             Length: About 3 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double rotate flowers arranged in             rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils.             Umbels displayed above the foliage on strong peduncles.             Flowers face upright to outward; flowers slightly cupped.             Flowers not fragrant.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 20 flower             umbels per plant each with about 25 flower buds and open             flowers.         -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit, plants begin to             flower about 65 days after planting.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In             the garden in Dresden, Germany, flowering is continuous from             April until frost in the autumn.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about six to ten             days on the plant; umbels last about three to four weeks on             the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 5 cm to 6 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 8 cm to 10 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.5 cm to 5 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 1 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm.             Shape: Rounded. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About eight; imbricate. Length:             About 2.5 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:             Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 57A;             towards the base, close to 46A; at the base, close to 155D;             venation, close to 45A. Color becoming closer to 45A with             development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 57B; at the base, close to 155D; venation, close to             66A.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About two. Length: About             1.5 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Irregular. Apex: Rounded.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening and             fully opened, upper surface: Close to 57A; at the base,             close to 155D; venation, close to 66A. Color becoming closer             to 45A with development. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 57B; at the base, close to 155D;             venation, close to 66A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five to six, arranged in a             single whorl. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 144A; towards the base, close to 47A.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 10 cm to 15 cm.             Diameter: About 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Mostly erect.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 3 cm.             Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong; flexible.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 59B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About eight to ten. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:             Tubular. Anther color: Close to 172A. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 169C. Gynoecium: Pistil             quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Stigma             shape: Five to six-parted. Stigma color: Close to 46A. Style             length: About 3 mm. Style color: Close to 47B. Ovary color:             Close to 148B.         -   Seeds.—Shape: Elliptic. Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About             1 mm. Color: Close to 165A. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal     Geraniums. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been     observed to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about     0° C. to about 35° C. to 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden     performance. 

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Pacchy’ as illustrated and described. 